2.1.13 Martin Sentenced for Burning Down Home of Former Girlfriend as She and Others Slept Inside

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Sylvester Cox sentenced Randall Martin Jr. today to 50 years in prison for intentionally setting fire to the Northwest rowhouse occupied by a former girlfriend, her young son, and two other women.

At 3:50 a.m. on June 29, 2010, as his former girlfriend, her five-year-old son, and two others slept inside, Martin doused the front porch of the rowhouse in the 4300 block of Norfolk Avenue in gasoline and set it ablaze. The fire destroyed the home and heavily damaged a neighboring unit. Fortunately, everyone from both houses escaped; a family pet, however, was killed.

Earlier that same month, Martin and the victim ended their six-year relationship. Roughly two weeks later, on June 28, the two engaged in a dispute outside of the rowhouse, during which the victim threw a rock at Martin’s car. Martin responded that night by burning down her house, a rowhome that he had arranged for her as a board director for a nonprofit group that provides housing assistance for families in need. Martin had kept hidden the relationship from the nonprofit when he secured housing for the victim.

After the incident, Martin fled to his residence in Baltimore County where he refused to surrender to police even after tactical units arrived. Several hours later, he exited the home with his wife. After Martin was charged, he violated a bail condition by making contact with the victim.

On November 7, 2012, a Baltimore jury convicted Martin of 10 criminal counts, including first-degree arson and reckless endangerment.

The Major Investigations Unit was responsible for the prosecution of this case.